MY VEHICLE STALLED, CUT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, AND DIED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AM ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. ALL MAINTENANCE FOR THE VEHICLE WERE BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED AP RHERE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES. THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.
2016 Kia Soul
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Soul years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Kia Soul are substantially higher than the model-year median of 225.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Soul years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
362 reports with mileage · 448 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 555 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
555 reportsMY 2016 KIA SOUL IS UNDER A RECALL DUE TO BURNING OIL THAT WRECKED THE CANDLE AT A CONVERTER IN HAS THE POTENTIAL OF THROWING A ROD. I THREW A ROD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO SAY IT'S LIKE A MINT MAINTENANCE NOT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF THE BURNING OIL WHICH IS A CAUSE FOR LAWSUITS TOWARDS KIA. THE …
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MY 2016 KIA SOUL IS UNDER A RECALL DUE TO BURNING OIL THAT WRECKED THE CANDLE AT A CONVERTER IN HAS THE POTENTIAL OF THROWING A ROD. I THREW A ROD AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO SAY IT'S LIKE A MINT MAINTENANCE NOT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM OF THE BURNING OIL WHICH IS A CAUSE FOR LAWSUITS TOWARDS KIA. THE DEALERSHIP AND KIA ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR EVEN KNOWING IT IS UNDER A RECALL AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE AT THE KIS AT CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DUTCH MILLER KIA (7725 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DUTCH MILLER KIA (7725 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,188.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO BOB BELL KIA (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 766-3600), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V12…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO BOB BELL KIA (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 766-3600), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,500. *TR*JB THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, STALLED IN THE STREET AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE 7900 EASTERN AVE. BALTIMORE, MD 21224. I WAS CALLED ON 17-JUN-2019 AND I TOLD THAT I HAD TO PAY $139 BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. ON 18-JUNE-2019, I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE HAD NO OIL IN IT. I WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY $8, 373.47 FOR A NEW ENGINE.*JB
DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MILES PER HOUR ON CITY STREET - LOAD NOISE UNDER ENGINE, IT STARTED KNOCKING, LOSS OF POWER, LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE. HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. PRIOR TO FAILURE - NO LIGHTS/WARNINGS KIA SOUL + WITH 2.0 ENGINE FOUND FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR THE 1.6 L ENGINE - I SUSPECT IT IS OCCURRIN…
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DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MILES PER HOUR ON CITY STREET - LOAD NOISE UNDER ENGINE, IT STARTED KNOCKING, LOSS OF POWER, LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER VEHICLE. HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. PRIOR TO FAILURE - NO LIGHTS/WARNINGS KIA SOUL + WITH 2.0 ENGINE FOUND FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR THE 1.6 L ENGINE - I SUSPECT IT IS OCCURRING ON THE 2.0L ENGINES ALSO NHTSA RECALL #140711 NHTSA COMPAIGN #19V120000 MFG COMPAIGN #SC176 REMOVED OIL PAN AND FOUND PISTON CLOSEST TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DESTROYED AND IN OIL PAN. ROD PUNCTURED FRONT AND REAR OF BLOCK. VEHICLE HAS 88,439 MILES 2ND OWNER SO 100,000 MILE WARRANTY NOT APPLICABLE I HAVE TO FIX THE VEHICLE NOW - CANNOT WAIT FOR SOLUTION ON THIS - CURIOUS IF THE ABOVE LISTED RECALL IS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE 2.0 ENGINES, WHAT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE COSTS BEING COVERED?
ON 6-10-19 THE 2.0L ENGINE FAILED IN MY 2016 KIA SOUL+ WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO A "MANUFACTURER DEFECT" AND WILL BE "REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY." THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP STATED THE CYLINDERS IN THE BLOCK WERE "OUT OF ROUND." THEY SAID IT APPEARED THAT ALLOW OIL TO G…
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ON 6-10-19 THE 2.0L ENGINE FAILED IN MY 2016 KIA SOUL+ WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS DUE TO A "MANUFACTURER DEFECT" AND WILL BE "REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY." THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP STATED THE CYLINDERS IN THE BLOCK WERE "OUT OF ROUND." THEY SAID IT APPEARED THAT ALLOW OIL TO GET BURNED WITH THE EXHAUST AND BURN UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CAUSED HIGH AMOUNTS OF CARBON BUILD UP IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I HAVE NO TIME FRAME AS TO WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO ME.
AT FIRST THERE WAS A GURGLE THAT STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING. THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. FOLLOWING THAT, WHEN PARKED IF I TURN ON AND OFF THE A/C THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ITSELF, I'VE ONLY LET IT REACH 4RPM BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO DOWN ON IT'S OWN. I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND …
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AT FIRST THERE WAS A GURGLE THAT STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING. THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHEN PUT IN DRIVE. FOLLOWING THAT, WHEN PARKED IF I TURN ON AND OFF THE A/C THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ITSELF, I'VE ONLY LET IT REACH 4RPM BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GO DOWN ON IT'S OWN. I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF OIL INSIDE MY ENGINE AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME TILL IT DIES. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECENTLY RECALLED FOR ENGINES A YEAR MAKE BEFORE MINE. BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.
I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT THAT CAN CAUSE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD AND CAN CAUSE OIL LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR IN CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MY CAR FAILED EMISSIONS I TOLD THEM IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND I HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK THEY FIXED THE CTALYTIC CONVERTER AND TOLD ME THAT THE OIL LEAK IS B…
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I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT THAT CAN CAUSE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD AND CAN CAUSE OIL LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR IN CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MY CAR FAILED EMISSIONS I TOLD THEM IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND I HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK THEY FIXED THE CTALYTIC CONVERTER AND TOLD ME THAT THE OIL LEAK IS BECAUSE MY GASKET IS MESSED UP AND IF I PAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE THEY WILL FIX IT AND I WONT HAVE ANY MORE OIL LEAKS WELL ITS 2 WEEKS LATER AND MY OIL LIGHT IS COMING BACK ON THEY ARE CROOKED AND I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT IT SINCE I ALREADY HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER FIXED...THE OIL STARTED LEAKING AT SAME TIME CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON SO I KNOW THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER HEATING AND IN RECALL AND KIA TOLD THEM IF ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED THEY NEED TO DO IT. I HAVE AN APPOINMENT AT 7:30 ON 6/12 WITH KIA OF COATSEVILLE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET THEM TO FIX MY VEHICLE ITS COSTING ME MONEY TO TAKE OFF WORK TO GET THIS DONE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED HADDAD KIA (LOCATED AT 5445 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA SOUL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN EMISSIONS FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED HADDAD KIA (LOCATED AT 5445 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 398-0264) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF AN OIL FAILURE. AT 5,961 MILES, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW. AT 57,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW. THE CONTACT CALLED HADDAD KIA AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL SERVICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE, AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, AND THE COP AND ECU WERE UPGRADED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AND FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBERS: 13188706 AND 13188698. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,937.
SOUL BEGAN USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I DID ALL THE OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALER. WHILE SPECS SAY EVERY 5000 MILES, WE WERE CHANGING IT AT 3000 AND ADDING IN A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES BETWEEN CHANGES. CAR PERFORMANCE HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST YEAR. THEY SAID IT WAS MY PLUGS. THE LAST TWO TIMES IN, THEY SAID I…
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SOUL BEGAN USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I DID ALL THE OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALER. WHILE SPECS SAY EVERY 5000 MILES, WE WERE CHANGING IT AT 3000 AND ADDING IN A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES BETWEEN CHANGES. CAR PERFORMANCE HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST YEAR. THEY SAID IT WAS MY PLUGS. THE LAST TWO TIMES IN, THEY SAID IT WAS MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER (4 YRS OLD; 145K MILES). 1ST QUOTE WAS 1300. LAST QUOTE WAS 1600. THEY TOLD ME THEY REMOVED IT TO CONFIRM THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. MY SON CRAWLED UNDER THE CAR AND FLAT OUT SAID THEY LIED. IT WAS NEVER REMOVED. HE WAS THE ONE TO FIND THAT THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR KIA SOULS SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ISSUE. THE VIN IS NOT COVERED. I AM ASKING THAT THIS CAR BE ADDED TO THE LIST AS IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE AND IS A RISK TO DRIVE. I HAVE RENTED A CAR LAST WEEK AND MY SON IS LOANING ME A CAR THIS WEEK. I AM ATTACHING A PICTURE OF THE CONVERTER. MY SON NOTES THAT IF THEY REMOVED IT TO TEST THEIR CONCLUSION, THEN THE BOLTS WOULD SHOW SIGNS OF REMOVAL AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO WELD THAT BACK PIPE. **DATE** I AM PUTTING TODAY'S DATE SINCE I DO NOT KNOW WHICH DATE TO USE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE EXCESSIVE OIL USE STARTING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST INDICATION THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS.
Official recalls
219V120000 · Engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Feb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Consequence: Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
17V608000 · Steering
Sep 29, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Soul and Soul EV vehicles. The pinion plug may allow the pinion gear to separate from the steering gear assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the pinion gear separates, steering will be lost, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the pinion plug or replace the steering gear assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 16, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC155. Note: This recall supersedes campaigns 14V-332 and 15V-736. Vehicles previously remedied under those numbers are being recalled again under this campaign.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21003 · Engine Fires
Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement. Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia. The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio. The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires. In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines. The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS. It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension. For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied. Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates. To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years. In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires. Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis. Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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